Up until about a week ago, I had a completely different blog post ready to go for y’all about how hypnotherapy can be used as a complement to using weight loss drugs like GLP-1, which it absolutely can be, but the whole thing just wasn’t sitting right with my soul and I knew I had so much more to offer on this topic.
I’ve been on what seems like a life long journey with my weight and I’m sure some of you can probably relate to this. In the 7th grade, I attended my first Weight Watchers meeting with my mom and it seems like I’ve been on some kind of diet ever since. Looking back on it, it’s just like wow…7th grade?! I feel like I should have been entirely too young to be worrying about my weight, but I was. While it may not have been 7th grade for you, it’s likely there has been a moment in your life where you were in my 7th grade shoes when you became aware that something had to change with your body.
Today, 1 out of every 6 kids in America has obesity. That’s just mind blowing. Think about it this way - if you have a classroom of 24 kids, 4 of them are likely to be obese. Now take that and multiply it by how many classrooms of children we have in America…🤯
Now most of you who are reading this are likely already adults and so while those stats may be disheartening and hard to wrap your mind around, it doesn’t really directly impact you because you’re already past this stage of your life. But are you really?
So much of our experience today has deep roots back into our childhood. Majority of the foundation of our subconscious, which “controls 95% of how you think, react, and behave, the actions you take, and way you perceive life”, is completely developed by the time we’re between the ages of 7-8 years old.
Now let’s look at specifically how this ties into the topic at hand. Eating is a fundamental part of life - if we don’t eat we die, but yet there is so much more to it than this. Consuming food has such a large emotional aspect to it. When we put food in our mouths that we really love and enjoy, it releases dopamine in our brains which is the pleasure hormone and it makes us feel good. It’s our body’s way of rewarding our “good behavior” for nourishing our body and keeping us alive.
The problem comes in when in our lives we don’t have enough other things to give us that dopamine hit (exercise, laughing, being with people that we love and who support us, spending time outside, etc.). We naturally want to feel good. It feels good to feel good. So our body knows that if we eat food that we enjoy, we feel good. Then when we’re having a bad day, to make ourselves feel better, our subconscious nudges us to go eat that piece of cake or that cheeseburger and fries so that we can feel good.
There’s so much more that we could get into on this topic, but ultimately the point is there is a component of eating that is emotional and can get out of hand. When we don’t have good tools to help us cope with those big emotions it can be easy to fall into the pattern of emotional eating to help us feel better.
This is also where the new weight loss pharmaceuticals like GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptor agonists, come into play. These weight loss drugs mimic the hormone GLP-1, which play a role in regulating appetite and blood sugar levels. These medications, such as semaglutide (Wegovy) and liraglutide (Saxenda), help individuals lose weight by:
Reducing Appetite: GLP-1 receptor agonists slow down the emptying of the stomach, which helps individuals feel fuller for longer periods, thereby reducing overall calorie intake.
Improving Blood Sugar Control: These drugs enhance the body's insulin response, making it easier to manage blood sugar levels, which is particularly beneficial for individuals with type 2 diabetes.
Promoting Satiety: By increasing the levels of GLP-1, these medications help promote a feeling of satiety, reducing the frequency of overeating and snacking.
For some, this is enough. This is the fix that works on the physical level to help individuals lose weight. And if this is the path you’re thinking of going on or have gone on, then I think that’s great. These pharmaceuticals are doing a lot of good for people who previously would have had to go through much more invasive procedures like gastric bypass surgery to loose that substantial amount of weight. There are also some cons that are worth understanding. I highly suggest talking with your doctor about what’s the right path for you and if you’d like to learn more, check out this podcast on Huberman Lab 👉🏼 Dr. Zachary Knight: The Science of Hunger & Medications to Combat Obesity
Notice in the list above though, what’s missing?
Nowhere in that list, nor in any other diet I’ve ever been on or heard of, does it truly address the root cause of the emotional part of overeating, which for me is where every diet fails and is not a long term fix. It’s the reason “yo-yo” dieting is a coined phrase. Without addressing the emotional aspect of why you ended up heavier than you wanted to be in the first place, you’ll always end up “yo-yo” dieting.
This is where hypnotherapy comes into play as a complementary part of your weight loss journey. Hypnotherapy works in tandem with pharmaceutical interventions by:
Addressing Emotional Eating: Many people turn to food for comfort during stressful or emotional times. Hypnotherapy helps individuals identify the emotional triggers that lead to overeating and develop healthier coping mechanisms.
Reducing Stress: Stress is a significant contributor to weight gain, as it can lead to increased cortisol levels and cravings for unhealthy foods. Hypnotherapy promotes relaxation and reduces stress, making it easier to stick to a healthy eating plan.
Changing Negative Beliefs: Negative self-talk and beliefs about one's ability to lose weight can sabotage efforts. Hypnotherapy helps reframe these thoughts into positive affirmations, boosting confidence and motivation.
Benefits of Combining Hypnotherapy and Pharmaceuticals
Combining hypnotherapy with dieting or pharmaceutical interventions like GLP-1 receptor agonists offers numerous benefits for those seeking to lose weight:
Sustainable Weight Loss: By addressing the root causes of unhealthy eating habits and using medications to control appetite, this combined approach promotes long-term behavior changes.
Improved Self-Control: Hypnotherapy helps individuals develop greater self-control over their eating habits and make healthier food choices, while medications support appetite regulation.
Enhanced Motivation: Positive suggestions and affirmations boost motivation and commitment to weight loss goals, complemented by the physiological support of medications.
Reduced Stress: Hypnotherapy promotes relaxation and reduces stress, helping prevent stress-related eating.
Increased Confidence: Reframing negative self-beliefs enhances self-esteem and confidence in one's ability to lose weight.
Using Hypnotherapy for Weight Loss in Lake Charles, LA
Using hypnotherapy for weight loss in Lake Charles, LA offers a promising solution. A hypnotherapist professional provides a safe and supportive environment to help individuals achieve their weight loss goals through this holistic approach.
Choosing a Hypnotherapist
When selecting a hypnotherapist in Lake Charles, LA, it's important to consider the following factors:
Credentials: Ensure the hypnotherapist is certified by a reputable organization, such as the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis (ASCH), the National Guild of Hypnotists (NGH), or the International Alliance of Professional Complementary Practitioners (IAPCP).
Experience: Look for a hypnotherapist with experience in weight loss counseling. This specialization ensures they understand the unique challenges associated with weight loss.
Client Reviews: Reading reviews and testimonials from previous clients can provide insight into the hypnotherapist's effectiveness and approach.
Initial Consultation: Prior to starting the healing process with a hypnotherapist, the initial consultation and intake forms are a good opportunity to ask questions, discuss your goals, and determine if the therapist is a good fit for you.
Conclusion
Weight loss is a multifaceted challenge that requires addressing both physical and psychological aspects. Combining hypnotherapy with a traditional weight loss diet or pharmaceutical interventions like GLP-1 receptor agonists offers a unique and effective approach to weight management. Hypnotherapy helps individuals get to the root cause of why they ended up overweight in the first place and helps them access and reframe the subconscious thoughts and behaviors that contribute to unhealthy eating habits. For those in Lake Charles, LA, or anywhere else in the world, hypnotherapy for weight loss provides a valuable tool for achieving sustainable weight loss and improving overall well-being. If you're struggling with weight loss, consider exploring hypnotherapy along with diet changes and potentially weight loss pharmaceutical options as a path toward a healthier, more balanced life.
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Disclaimer
The information provided in this blog post is intended for general informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The author is not a licensed medical doctor, and the content shared should not be considered as medical advice. Always seek the guidance of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in this post.
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